Everyone in the conference room turned to look at Lisette.


    "So what''s going on?" someone asked bluntly.


    "Wait, what are you doing here, Lisette? What gives you the right to even be in this meeting?"


    "Yeah, isn''t this a board meeting? Looks like some people who shouldn''t be here somehow made it in."


    All eyes shifted to Monty.


    "Monty, why did you bring this woman from the money-pit department into the boardroom?"


    Monty scowled. "That whole mess is over. Lisette already fixed the shortfall, so can we stop dragging that up? That''s not the point right now. Maybe let her finish what she has to say before you all start jumping down her throat?"


    Calliope nced over at Lisette. "So, what is it you want to say?"


    Lisette let out a bitterugh. "Calliope, you don''t even belong to the Jewell family. You scammed us for our shares, and you''ve been hanging around ever since. You''re a fraud, through and through."


    She held up her phone. "I''ve already called the cops. They''ll be here soon to arrest you."<fnf87a> Readplete version only at F?ndNovel</fnf87a>


    "And let me tell you all, Calliope didn''t just scam us out of our shares. She conned our grandfather, too. She pretended to be one of the Jewell kids and stole Kermit''s estate. She''s nothing but a dirty, low-life cheat!"


    Lisette''s eyes narrowed as she hurled insult after insult at Calliope.


    The room fell dead silent. Every gaze was fixed on Lisette and Calliope.


    After a long, awkward pause, someone finally said, "Look, this sounds like a family matter. Why are you airing it out here? Were not your family therapists. We don''t need to sit here and listen to all this drama."  s


    "We''re busy people! Don''t waste our time. Go home and sort out your own issues!"


    "And anyway, you''re saying she''s not really a Jewell? Lisette, neither are you. Did you forget? You''re not even rted by blood. So why are you getting so worked up?"


    The faces around the conference table were cold, some openly mocking. Their contempt and disdain for Lisette were crystal clear.


    Most of these people had already dealt with Calliope before. If you hadn''t worked with her, you wouldn''t know, but if you had, you''d know she was sharp as a tack.


    And honestly it didn''t matter whose name was on thepany letterhead. What the board needed was Calliope. With her in charge, the Jewel Group actually made money. If she ever left, the wholepany would be hanging by a thread. Monty and those other fools could never handle a corporation this big.  s


    So for the sake of their own jobs and bonuses, the executives and board members all sided with Calliope. Herst name didn''t matter. What mattered was she could keep the ship afloat and profits rolling in.


    "Lisette, are you done now? If so, you can get out. There''s no seat for you at this table!"


    "Yeah, take your family drama somewhere else! We''re here to talk business."


    "You lostpany money. You have no ce here!"


    Lisette had thought everyone would take the Jewell family''s side. After all, Calliope wasn''t even a real Jewell.


    But these old suits, everyst one of them, were backing Calliope.


    Lisette was furious. Her face twisted in disbelief.


    A senior board member turned to Calliope and said with a reassuring smile, "Ms. Callie, don''t worry about it. It doesn''t matter what your fast name is. What matters to us is that you can get the job done."  s